Direction-indicator.



G.l C. CHEEK.

DIRECTION mmcmo.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 8.19I1.

Patented Aug. 27

Hy-cat'ors, of whichthe following is a specificai,aveea.

' `@maia aitninalea oo'aber 8,1917.- semina,

``appear.v l The invention` consists of the parts and the constructionk and combination of parts as hereinafter more fully described' and GEORGE C. CREEK, F SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGZNB, VOlli' ONE-SIXTH TO OMER n. CREEK, AND ONE-SIXTH To BODNEY J. Moisturssut'f,v BOTH ,oF SACRAMENTO,

-Lr il. f y manca*pro'N-INDIGATQB..,i,`

i Specification of Letter Patent.1 Patented Aug. 27, 1918.

Beitvknow'n t at I, GEORGE C. CREEK, a citizen ofpthe United States, residing at Sacramento, in the county of Sacramento and Stateof California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Direction-Indition.

This invention relates to a direction indicator.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a sirhple,a compact, cheaply manufactured device of the character described, which may bestatioried at railway crossings as a danger signal, 'used by trac oiiicers at street crossings to display traiic signals or directions, and used for advert1s ing and other purposes, but particularly as a direction indicator for automobiles by showing words, such as Right," Left or other suitable signals Awhich will indicate the intended movements of the automobile.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple electrical control, whereby the mechanism may be readily operated by the driver. Further objects will hereinafter claimed, having reference to the accompanying drawings, in'ilvhi.A i' I Figure 1 isa lfront-view of the direction indicator.

Fig. 2. is aI central,fvertical cross sectionv of same.` v

Fig. 3 is a view of the wiring diagram. Referring to the drawings in detail, A indicates a casing constructed of sheet iron or any other suitable material, which, in the present instance, is divided into four sepa-v l rate compartments, such as shown at 2, 3, 4 and 5, by a horizontal partition plate 6l and a vertical partition plate 7. Formed on each side of the casing are: guideways 8' which are provided for the recept-ion of removable slides 9, one for each side of the casing. These slides are constructed of glass, celluloid or any other suitable transparent or semi-transparent material, and the glass or material provided is preferably mounted in a frame 10 whichlits the guideways 8.

vPainted on the .interior surface of the plates 9 are the words Right and Left;

the word Left registering with the upper tric light r12, the center partition plate 7 being cut away tov permit the insertion of the lights, thusv permitting one light to illuminate two compartments simultaneously. The lamp v11 illuminates compartments 2 and 3 while the lamp 12 illuminates the com# partments .4 and 5.'

There are two removable plates 9 held by the guideways, one on each. side. of the casing, and as eachl plate is provided with the words Right and Left, illumination of the upper compartment will display the word Left so that it may beseen by pedestrians and drivers of vehicles both lfrom the front and the rear, the same display being` accomplished when the lower partments are illuminated.

. The lights may be furnished `with current from any suitable source or a battery,- such as .shown at 13, and the circuit to the lights may be controlled by any suitable form of switch, such as shown at 14, positioned within convenient reach of thel driver of the automobile. While one direction indicator has been found suiicient, itis obvious that two may be employed one on each side of the oar, and while thedevice has been described as employed in connection with automobiles it may also be used by traiiic olicers or placed at railway crossings as a danger signal and may also be used for advertising and other purposes in general.

' One important feature of the present invention is the fact that the directing words or other matter contained are only displayed when the electric lights are operated, this being true whether in the daytime or at night. The interior of the casing is perfectly dark and as the words, for instance Right and Left, terior Side of the glass plates and as these plates are ground or otherwise rendered semi-transparent, it can. readily be seen that the words will not be displayed except when illuminated from the rear. vertical como are painted on the inpartition 7 prevents light from .3

through the glass plates 9, and thus prevent,

. glass plates and the compartments, as shown at 17, the semi-transparent effect being obtained bythe paper, clear glass or other material being employed in tha-t instance.

The plates are held in the guideways by one or more swinging lugs such as shown at 15. These' lugs are pivotally -attached to the casing, as, shown at 16, and when swung crosswise thereof, as shown in Fi s. 1 and 2, they will engage the undersides o the plates 9 and support removal.l If it is desired to remove the plates to change the display, or for any other purpose,it is only necessary vto swing the lugs 15 out of engagement with the plates, thus permitting the same to be quickly and readily removed.

The materials and finish of the device as a whole may otherwise be such as the experience and judgment of the manufacturer ma dictate. Y

lt should also be understood that the casings may be supported upon brackets or any suitable means, and I also wish it understood that various changes in form, proportions and minor details of construction may bev restored to within the scope of pended claims and that Ido not wish to limit myself -to the specific design and construction here shown.

Having thus described my invention, what the same against accidentalthe ap? imams I claim and t0 secure by Itters Pat ent is 1. In a directionv indicator, a casing,a horizontal partition in the casing formmg an upper and aV lower compartment, a verti-4 cal partition in the casing bisecting the horizontal partition and forming apair of upper and a pair of lower compartments, a semitransparent legend bearing plate for each. side of the casing, said vertical partition acting to prevent light from passing through i the casing from one plate to the other and said vertical partition having an openin above and an opening below said horizonta partition, and an electric lamp in each opening extending on opposite sides of the vertical partition so as to simultaneously illuminate4 the respective pairs of upper an lower compartments.

2. In a direction indicator, a casing, a pair. of vertical guide ways on each side of the casing, glass plates having legends associated therewith slidable in said respective airs of guide ways, and members pivoted tween their ends to the bottom of the casing and having their said ends engag'eable with and beneath the respective glass plates to holdthe latter against down movement, whereby the swinging of each member will simultaneously release both glass plates.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set m -hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE C. CHEEK.

Witnesses:

WM. BowvnN, 0. Z. Gos'riox. 

